ACORN Cardiff asked Emma James at CPS Homes to cease her claim on £498 of a tenant’s deposit after forcing them out with a rent increase. It was a beautiful day to stand up for our friend, neighbour and fellow member Rebecca.

Emma forced Rebecca to move after making huge rent increases (about 23%) in the last 18 months. Rebecca has been struggling financially after she was made redundant at short notice, and was counting on her deposit to help cover moving costs. Now Emma is taking most of that too.

Emma James is both a landlord and the head of CPS Homes, a lettings agency notorious for dodgy deposit deductions thanks to Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back TV programme in 2020. Emma’s companies hold over £17 million in assets. All we’re asking is for Rebecca’s £498 to be returned.

We delivered a letter to Emma before Easter weekend but this dispute has yet to be resolved. It is our view that this claim is petty and greedy, and it is obvious the money is much more important to Rebecca than it is to Emma. We hope CPS Homes and Emma James see sense soon.